Help Kate Run and Play Sport

Since I was a little girl, I have hated having my disability and wish that I could be normal. When I say "normal" I mean being able to run around, jumping over objects, play Saturday morning sports and be able to do what other people can do, But even right now as a young adult, I can’t do what I would love to do why? Because I have cerebral palsy.

Medical misadventure at birth caused my cerebral palsy which has made both my leg muscles weak and tight. Although I can walk by myself, I do use a walking stick for balance. I would love to come off my walking stick and live a normal life. With wanting to become a class room teacher, I would find it impossible to get to an urgent situation that could occur in the playground fast enough.

I now have an opportunity to undergo surgery in America which could enable me to do everything I want to do, but it’s going to cost $100,000NZ. My family and I are doing all they can to raise these funds, but if you could help in any way, I would incredibly appreciate it.

The surgery in America is called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). Selective dorsal rhizotomy or SDR involves sectioning (cutting) of some of the sensory nerve fibers that come from the muscles and enter the spinal cord. It's surgery on the spinal cord where the motor and sensory nerves are separated. At which point the sensory nerves that test high for spasticity are cut. Presently, SDR is the only surgical procedure that can provide permanent reduction of spasticity in CP. SDR results in improvements in sitting, standing, walking and balance control in walking. It is conducted by a doctor named Dr. T S Park at St Louis Children’s Hospital, who has already helped approximately 3,000 people with cerebral palsy. http://www.stlouischildrens.org/our-services/center-cerebral-palsy-spasticity/about-cerebral-palsy-spasticity

$100,000NZ is needed for the surgery, and the three weeks I need to stay in St Louis with my parents afterwards to concentrate on my rehabilitation.

The oldest patient to of had the surgey is 50 and here is a video Feel free to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPIN1aOrkuI. it is mind blowing what she can do after SDR.